--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a…" description: "\"Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!\" — Leo Tolstoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png" --- # Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver! ![“Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png) > “Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being bad is permissible, but deceit is unacceptable; integrity outweighs mischief. **In simple terms:** Bad behavior is okay, but lying is not. Key Takeaway Choose honesty over trickery. Themes ethics integrity behavior Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - relationships - business - politics - friendships - online interactions Key Concepts morality trust personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When is a lie justified? - How does honesty affect trust? A Different Perspective Sometimes “bad” actions have hidden harms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deceiver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceiver/) [Don Liar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-liar-632957/) [Liar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar/) [Liar Deceiver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar-deceiver-632956/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) ## Related quotes > [The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-trouble-with-lying-and-deceiving-is-that-their-efficiency-depends/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [There was a scene cut out of 'Big Fat Liar' (2002) where I had to wear a dress. This may sound kind of weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-muniz/there-was-a-scene-cut-out-of-big-fat-liar-2002-where-i-had-to-wear-a/) [Frankie Muniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-muniz/) > [I would be a liar, a hypocrite, or a fool - and I'm not any of those - to say that I don't write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-would-be-a-liar-a-hypocrite-or-a-fool-and-i-m-not-any-of-those-to/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I talk about the gods, I am an atheist. But I am an artist too, and therefore a liar. Distrust everything I say. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-talk-about-the-gods-i-am-an-atheist-but-i-am-an-artist-too-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [If you want to be thought a liar, always tell the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/if-you-want-to-be-thought-a-liar-always-tell-the-truth/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I was brought up to never lie. Sure, I have. But in the final mix, the lies I've told are far outweighed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-was-brought-up-to-never-lie-sure-i-have-but-in-the-final-mix-the/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-never-was-a-liar-that-had-not-a-spot-in-him-where-he-could-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-visionary-lies-to-himself-the-liar-only-to-others/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The woman who says, 'My kids are all speaking to one another and they love us' is a psychopathic liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-woman-who-says-my-kids-are-all-speaking-to-one-another-and-they/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [And I, love, am a pathological liar,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/and-i-love-am-a-pathological-liar/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [That's good; don't deny it. Denying the undeniable just makes you sound like a fool as well as a liar. In this profession, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/that-s-good-don-t-deny-it-denying-the-undeniable-just-makes-you-sound/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I think you are a liar because you think you know what is true. You think you feel what is true. But you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-croggon/i-think-you-are-a-liar-because-you-think-you-know-what-is-true-you/) [Alison Croggon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-croggon/) > [A liar freely gives his oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-malloch/a-liar-freely-gives-his-oath/) [Douglas Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-malloch/) > [Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/even-a-liar-tells-a-hundred-truths-to-one-lie-he-has-to-to-make-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Deceiver quotes > [While husbands and lovers in the stories are of all kinds, ranging from sympathetic to disgusting, women are invariably deceivers: inconstant, unscrupulous, quarrelsome, querulous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/while-husbands-and-lovers-in-the-stories-are-of-all-kinds-ranging/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [God is not a deceiver, that He should offer to support us, and then, when we lean upon Him, should slip away from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-is-not-a-deceiver-that-he-should-offer-to-support-us-and-then/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-worst-sinners-according-to-jesus-are-not-the-harlots-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Sigh no more ladies, sigh no more, men were deceivers ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/sigh-no-more-ladies-sigh-no-more-men-were-deceivers-ever/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm a deceiver bound up in chains. Painting my face to hide my pain God save me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/i-m-a-deceiver-bound-up-in-chains-painting-my-face-to-hide-my-pain/) [Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/) > [Alas, how quickly the gratitude owed to the dead flows off, how quick to be proved a deceiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/alas-how-quickly-the-gratitude-owed-to-the-dead-flows-off-how-quick/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [It is possible to live the Christian life just on the surface, knowing only enough to carry on an intelligent conversation in the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/it-is-possible-to-live-the-christian-life-just-on-the-surface-knowing/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [It is a curious paradox that precisely in proportion to our own intellectual weakness will be our credulity, to those mysterious powers assumed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-a-curious-paradox-that-precisely-in-proportion-to-our-own/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Reciting poetry isn't acting, it's memory work. Actor's are deceivers. People who pretend to be something else for a living aren't right in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hetty-king/reciting-poetry-isn-t-acting-it-s-memory-work-actor-s-are-deceivers/) [Hetty King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hetty-king/) > [Those who trust others will find that not everyone is necessarily sincere, but they will be sincere themselves. Those who suspect others will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/those-who-trust-others-will-find-that-not-everyone-is-necessarily/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [ It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. \[Fr., Car c'est double plaisir de tromper le trompeur.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/it-is-double-pleasure-to-deceive-the-deceiver-fr-car-c-est-double/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to think. It cannot be replaced by one's power to deceive. The self-confidence of a scientist and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/self-esteem-is-reliance-on-one-s-power-to-think-it-cannot-be-replaced/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Drink was the most fearsome of deceivers ... for it promised one thing and came through with quite another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-boyle/drink-was-the-most-fearsome-of-deceivers-for-it-promised-one-thing/) [Kay Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-boyle/) > [It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/it-is-twice-the-pleasure-to-deceive-the-deceiver/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) [Browse all 83 Deceiver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceiver/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-deceiver/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deceiver" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-deceiver/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/leo-tolstoy-55_deceiver_be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-de_2458814.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!” — Leo Tolstoy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be bad, but at least don't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-deceiver/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/be-bad-but-at-least-don-t-be-a-liar-a-deceiver/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```